Cuba faces its most significant crisis in years, compounded by days of power outages and the arrival of Hurricane Oscar. Frustration has led to small protests, with President Díaz-Canel downplaying their significance and attributing the energy failures to the U.S. blockade. The government has responded with threats of repression, recalling past crackdowns on dissent. As many homes remain without electricity, residents struggle to preserve food, and support from international allies is sought.
Cuba Faces Major Crisis: Power Outages and Hurricane ‘Oscar’
The Cuban government is grappling with a significant crisis as the nation experiences widespread power outages, compounded by the arrival of Hurricane ‘Oscar.’ While electricity is reportedly being restored in the capital city of Havana, many households remain without power, leading to growing frustration among residents.
Demonstrations are emerging across Havana and other areas, where citizens express their discontent by banging on pots and pans. In response, President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the nation on state television, dressed in military garb. He downplayed the protests, stating that they involved only a small group, primarily inebriated individuals, attempting to disrupt public order. Díaz-Canel insisted that security forces swiftly quelled these disturbances.
The Ministry of Energy announced that the country’s largest power plant had to be disconnected from the grid, intensifying the ongoing energy crisis.
The U.S. Embargo Blamed for Energy Shortages
The situation is dire for the Cuban government, facing unprecedented challenges amid a complete power grid collapse. The country’s energy infrastructure has long been in disrepair and has suffered regular outages. Fuel shortages have been exacerbated by decreased support from Venezuela, a nation grappling with its own economic struggles. The government attributes the energy crisis to the U.S. trade embargo, which was intensified under former President Donald Trump.
Díaz-Canel reaffirmed the government’s stance, stating, “The revolution will never tolerate this behavior.” He emphasized that anyone participating in the protests would face consequences under the country’s revolutionary laws. Many regions continue to experience darkness both in homes and on the streets.
Repressive Measures Against Dissent
Cuba’s history of suppressing dissent has been evident, particularly in the wake of the 2021 protests triggered by earlier power outages, where hundreds were arrested. One resident, who endured three days without electricity, shared her struggles with a reporter from Reuters. She lamented the state of her fridge and the loss of food due to ongoing power issues, revealing that electricity was turned on and off intermittently without providing lasting relief.
With millions left in the dark, the impending hurricane brings additional challenges.
The Impact of Hurricane ‘Oscar’
As Hurricane ‘Oscar’ made landfall, visuals circulating on social media depicted residents building makeshift outdoor wood stoves to salvage their food supplies. One frustrated woman expressed, “It’s terrible; without electricity, we have nothing—no food, no way to freeze anything, no work. It’s incredibly hard.”
In particular, the eastern part of the island faced significant flooding, uprooted trees, and damaged homes. Countries like Russia, Venezuela, Mexico, Barbados, and Colombia have pledged their support in the aftermath of the hurricane.
While the state electricity operator announced plans to restore power in some parts of Havana, the aging grid means that widespread outages may continue to be a common issue for the people of Cuba.